Political Change and E-commerce Drive Ongoing Growth for Cannabis Industry

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Years of steady growth in the cannabis industry are expected to continue.

Cannabis industry forecasts anticipate revenues of $146 billion by 2025.
Individual U.S. states are already seeing cannabis sales exceed $1 billion in a year.
The departure of Jeff Sessions and expected passage of the Farm Bill will bolster these profits.
E-commerce is helping cannabidiol (CBD) products reach a growing market.

SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) (SING Profile) is showing how much technology can boost the industry, with support software and an online store. Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC) is also profiting from supporting producers, through the sale of hydroponic equipment. American Premium Water Corp. (OTC: HIPH) (HIPH Profile) is providing innovative cannabis-based products in the form of its CBD-infused water. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (TSX.V: WTER) (OTCQB: WTER) has announced the formation of a beverage division that will offer a hemp-derived, CBD-infused product, while Level Brands, Inc. (NYSE American: LEVB) is partnering with a pharmaceutical and wellness company to provide CBD cream, spray, and edible products.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Keeping Up the Cannabis Momentum

Turbulent times in the United States are creating uncertainty for a number of industries. But for the cannabis industry, the past few years have been ones of constant growth. The spread of recreational and medical marijuana legalization across the United States and Canada has given the industry a huge boost, both financially and in its public profile, as has the increasing popularity of CBD products.

That growth is expected to continue, in large part thanks to the momentum from political change. The departure of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions offers the possibility that the White House may finally commit to President Donald Trump’s electoral promise of cannabis policy reform at the federal level. Meanwhile, the Democratic majority in the House, together with the hemp clauses in this year’s Farm Bill renewal, set the stage to make life easier for those looking to support the American hemp industry.

The Growth of Cannabis

The past few years have been good for cannabis and technology holding company SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING). Like so many other companies working with cannabis, SinglePoint has benefited from a huge growth in business as a once-obscure sector of the economy turns into a growing powerhouse and major employer.

There’s an irony to the fact that, for most of the companies working in the cannabis space, being based in North America is what makes their business possible. Thirty years ago, this was the headquarters of the war on drugs — the U.S. government’s attempt to wipe out the cannabis industry alongside those producing and distributing other drugs. Now the United States and Canada are the world’s biggest markets for legal cannabis as reformers work to take pot profits away from criminal gangs and to bolster public health through a legal, well-regulated industry.

As of this year, cannabis is legal for medical consumption in two-thirds of U.S. states and for recreational use in a fifth of them. Recreational use became legal in Canada a month ago — the first G8 country to make such a move. This step forward has created a huge market for companies such as SinglePoint to tap into, with Colorado alone expecting to see a billion dollars of cannabis sales by the end of 2018.

This growth isn’t limited to cultivators and retailers, the obvious face of the cannabis industry. Those businesses need support services and infrastructure to do their work. SinglePoint provides a wide range of tech solutions tailored to the sector, including software to measure cultivation, track deliveries and make payments. Other businesses provide nutrients, hydroponic equipment and advisory services to the burgeoning cannabis sector.

This also means a growing number of jobs. These are diverse opportunities as well, with many of them involving specialist skills and training from bud tending to compliance, not to mention the coders crafting SinglePoint’s software. During a reporting period between January 2017 and July 2018, the number of job listings in the industry rose by a staggering 690 percent. And the global market is expected to exceed $146 billion in revenues by the end of 2025, driven in large part by events in North America.

Maintaining Marijuana’s Momentum

One of the most significant events of the past few weeks for the cannabis industry’s prospects has been the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

An outspoken opponent of cannabis reform, Sessions tried to roll back the President Barack Obama-era policy in which the federal government, though still treating cannabis as illegal, accepted the decisions of individual states to legalize it. The federal-level illegality of cannabis is an ongoing problem for the industry for several reasons, including that it makes banks and payment providers wary of providing services to cannabis businesses. Companies such as SinglePoint offer alternative payment solutions, but federal laws still limit the options. Sessions’ departure may create a real potential for change.

“This could present a major opportunity for SinglePoint to offer services we have been able to provide to other businesses for years,” said SinglePoint president Wil Ralston. “The biggest winner here could be the ancillary service provides and the potential access to banking.”

During his election campaign, President Trump promised reform on cannabis. But after two years of a Trump White House, there’s been nothing more substantial than vague rumors. With Sessions gone, now may be the time to act as more states move to legalize cannabis. And even without federal reform, changes on the state level are still positive for the industry. As SinglePoint CEO Greg Lambrecht said in an interview with MoneyTV, “as more states come on, it’s just better for us.”

CBD: A Cannabis Surprise Hit

The other big political reform about to hit the industry is the 2018 Farm Bill. Delayed by political conflict over food stamps and immigration, the bill’s passage is now expected to speed up as Republicans push through a version they can live with before losing control of the House. This bill is set to legalize the hemp industry in the United States, allowing the cultivation of a nonpsychoactive form of cannabis.

Hemp promises to be a big cash crop. CBD oil extracted from hemp is used in a wide range of health and wellness products, such as the CBD water and tinctures recently released through SinglePoint’s SingleSeed site. The CBD side of the industry reaches markets that raw cannabis can’t and, as a result, has seen huge growth, spreading into health stores and international markets.

But it’s through e-commerce that CBD has really taken off. More than $4 million of CBD products were sold through Amazon just in July this year. For companies, such as SinglePoint, that are using their own e-commerce stores, there’s even greater potential for profit than through Amazon. By providing both the product and the marketplace, they create a complete funnel to customers, benefitting from all the profits and building a loyal client base.

Beyond Weed

As SinglePoint’s software and the growth of the CBD market show, the cannabis industry is about far more than just selling weed.

For Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC), the focus is on supplying equipment. A producer of cultivation equipment such as hydroponics and moving tables, Terra Tech provides cannabis growers with the tools they need to grow rich, profitable crops. The growth of the industry has increased sales for hydroponics companies, a trend that’s expected to continue. Terra Tech is investing heavily in a hydroponics provider to reduce its costs and improve its ability to ensure supplies to growers.

The growing popularity of CBD has drawn in companies from outside the cannabis industry as well. American Premium Water Corp. (OTC: HIPH) is a diversified luxury consumer product company that uses biotech as the basis for health and beauty merchandise. It has produced a CBD-infused drink — Lalpina CBD water — that makes it one of the first to turn CBD into a widely available edible product.

Alkaline Water Company, Inc. (OTCQB: WTER) (TSX.V: WTER) announced the formation of its A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc. The company currently offers products trademarked Alkaline88 that are available in more than 40,000 retail locations across the United States, including 39 of the top 50 grocers in the country. The new division — A88 — will focus on brand extension and product innovations in the healthful water category, with plans to offer a hemp-derived, CBD-infused Alkaline88 water product.

Level Brands, Inc. (NYSE American: LEVB) has launched a new line of CBD products developed jointly with Isodiol International, Inc. The products include CBD oral sprays marketed under kathy ireland® Health & Wellness; CBD edibles marketed under Chef Andre Carthen Edibles; and a CBD pain-relieving cream available under Ireland Men One, a men’s lifestyle brand focused on millennials.

The cannabis industry is already seeing huge growth, creating jobs and wealth. With legal reform in the United States and the momentum provided by e-commerce, this growth appears set to continue for a long time to come.

For more information on SinglePoint, visit SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING)

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Cannabis Stocks Defy Gravity During Market Plunge

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: In the recent broad stock market sell-off, one sector resisted the market plunge.

Cannabis stocks shined during the market rout.
Global cannabis market is expected to exceed $146 billion by 2025.
Cannabis market analysts predict CAGR of 34.6 percent during next seven years.
Cannabis markets spawn dynamic ancillary businesses.

Multiple marijuana stocks shined in the sea of red during mid-October’s rout, racking up gravity-defying gains. The sizzling sector is sending signals of being uncorrelated with markets that are driven by the imperatives of institutional traders. Being untethered from the vagaries of institutional intentions is most likely advantageous for individuals intent on profiting from the impending cannabis tsunami. Marijuana sector growth has spawned a realm of new dynamic businesses in previously unimagined arenas. Leveraging the immense opportunity, NUGL, Inc. (OTC: NUGL) (NUGL Profile) has developed a first-of-its-kind, cutting-edge search app and comprehensive online directory exclusively for the marijuana industry. Heralded as a global first-mover cannabis connectivity business, NUGL just signed a deal that significantly expands its footprint and reach. The global growth in marijuana has also spurred investments in the sector by such well-known names as Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG),and has launched marijuana-centric companies such as Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC) and KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB).

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Cannabis Jackpot

Cannabis is understandably generating intense global interest from business interests and investment communities. It’s impossible to ignore a market sector valued at an estimated $7 billion two years ago that’s now projected to exceed $146 billion worldwide by 2025 — a 20-fold increase. The stratospheric growth in the global marijuana market is anticipated to achieve a mind-boggling CAGR of 34.6 percent between 2018 and 2025.

Marijuana markets started gaining global traction in tandem with increased consumer demand for medicinal marijuana utilized for chronic pain and myriad other disorders. Medical marijuana was, in fact, the largest segment of the cannabis sector in 2016, and its value is expected to surpass $100 billion by 2025. The legalization of recreational marijuana use in multiple states and various countries has propelled demand into overdrive. The industry is now on track to bring in $8 billion by the end of this year. The research and development of safer forms of ingesting marijuana such as tinctures, oils, vapes and other edibles are expected to bolster market growth.

Connecting All Things Cannabis

On the cutting edge of the development of organic data analytics in the cannabis industry, NUGL, Inc. (OTC: NUGL) is focused on clearing up consumer confusion about the wide number of product options and becoming an integral asset to the burgeoning sector. While other attempts to connect and codify the spider web of interactions in the legal cannabis community have fallen short of expectations, NUGL expects its first-to-market, best-in-class technology platform to snag the lion’s share of this invaluable new market.

Since cannabis ads are prohibited on most social media networks, including Facebook, NUGL seized the opportunity to create the largest, most robust cannabis business networking platform in the world. The company’s internet-based search apps and online directory are the first ever to deliver global cannabis users networking power with unbiased search results, eliminating paid placement listings and skewed reviews. NUGL’s networking platform employs both business-to-consumer and business-to-business applications, providing the tools the industry needs to connect both pieces of the industry together. This allows all cannabis services, events and brands the ability to network and bring their companies to market.

NUGL’s platform is designed to serve cannabis-related businesses, products, services and users by building a community that meets the needs of each segment. NUGL puts the power of connection and self-promotion back into the hands of cannabis companies, giving them the tools to build a dedicated profile featuring their brands and services. The NUGL cannabis community is experiencing significant growth as dispensaries, strains, doctors, lawyers, service professionals, vape shops, hydro stores and brands are joining daily.

Profiles for Every Community Member

NUGL offers four types of profiles: brands, events, services, and retail. Each of these profiles can connect and interact with each other, allowing an unprecedented level of communication between each segment of the cannabis market. For instance, using the NUGL app, brands can explore and develop their distribution capabilities by connecting with retail locations. Brands can even use the app to market their products, letting stores know about special order discounts, specials, and other marketing information.

When a brand and retail store have inked a distribution deal, the store can benefit by being included on the NUGL store locator. That means that when a user searches for a specific cannabis brand, the retail store appears on a source map, driving consumers to the location.

Cannabis service providers can use NUGL to reach out to everyone on the app, advertising the unique services they provide. For instance, a CPA firm that specializes in the cannabis market can communicate directly with the niche clients it is looking for. And finally, events such concerts or other occasions that either focus on or are open to cannabis users can extend invitations and attract participants.

NUGL’s iOS and Android apps are available in the Apple and the Google Play stores, and the company is intensely consumer focused. Future software development is directed and driven by community feedback. Reinforcing its credo of “for the people, by the people,” NUGL just announced major updates to its app in response to community feedback asking for a more robust mobile application.

In tune with consumer input, NUGL proactively launched major mobile application updates that included, in part, newly redesigned profile pages and updated brand profiles. The company also added new swipe gestures and social media links to profile pages, as well as menu tabs and social share links to profiles. And NUGL simplified search functions with an updated search bar, new filters, improved brand search functionality and redesigned icons.

Multiple Platforms Expand Reach

There’s little doubt about consumer demand for cannabis or the void of platforms to efficiently connect consumers to cannabis-related companies and services. NUGL is rapidly filling that void and expanding at breakneck pace. NUGL’s user sign-ups and mobile app downloads in September eclipsed expectations and surpassed industry standards for comparable tech start-ups.

“We not only saw great returns on our initial spend but also saw the beginning of a viral push. Our next step is to scale our marketing model and watch NUGL grow its user base and app downloads even more,” NUGL CMO Ryan Bartlette stated.

Last month NUGL expanded its footprint and reach through a national joint venture marketing agreement with Nichols Publishing Company. NUGL is adding tens of thousands of print readers and online visitors with cannabis-centered magazines Garden & Greenhouse and Professional Marijuana Grower). Together, the magazines reach a cornucopia of small commercial growers, hobby growers, hydroponic and indoor gardeners, licensed cannabis growing facilities, processors and dispensaries. The magazines complement NUGL Magazine, which covers cannabis industry news and how it affects the cannabis community.

In a dramatic development, NUGL just announced a binding letter of intent to purchase Nichols Publishing Company. In what can be viewed as complete confidence in NUGL’s future, Nichols Publishing agreed to be acquired in exchange for $1 million in NUGL common stock. Nichols Publishing was founded by Robin Nichols more than a decade ago, and its cannabis trade magazines have grown into well-known brands. Nichols will join NUGL following the acquisition and run the publications’ operation under the NUGL name.

With clear intentions to dominate the market for global connectivity as it relates to cannabis consumers and businesses, NUGL’s decision to acquire Nichols Publishing is likely just a beginning as it expands its platforms and global footprint to synergistically support cannabis consumers and cannabis industry growth.

The Epiphany

There’s zero question about the past growth of the marijuana market, and future growth looks even brighter. Although the sector shines even during market sell-offs and marijuana stocks are reaching new highs, some say the sector is top heavy and frothy. If true, from this point forward, nascent ancillary business that feed and support consumers, services and businesses in the cannabis industry may hold much greater upside potential.

Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) just made the largest investment to date in the cannabis space. The company is already a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits. With the recent $4 billion investment, Constellation looks to accelerate market position, perhaps create cannabis-infused drinks and expand its portfolio in emerging cannabis markets around the globe.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) is the world’s leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products as well as hydroponic growing products. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting and other materials used in the hydroponic growing segment and now cannabis. The lawn and garden giant invested more than $1 billion in the past few years on a wide variety of companies that produce items connected to cannabis cultivation.

Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC) operates through multiple subsidiary businesses to provide both medical cannabis to patients and premium cannabis to the adult-use market in Nevada and California. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Edible Garden, cultivates a premier brand of local and sustainably grown hydroponic produce. Terra Tech’s MediFarm LLC subsidiaries are focused on medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation and permitting businesses throughout Nevada.

KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB) is the parent company to a diverse group of business units in the cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabis-related industries. KushCo’s subsidiaries and brands provide exceptional customer service, product quality, compliancy knowledge and a local presence in serving a diverse customer base. KushCo Holdings’ brands include Kush Supply Company, Kush Energy, Hybrid Creative and Koleto Packaging Solutions.

For more information on NUGL, visit NUGL Inc. (OTC: NUGL)

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Latest Farm Bill Developments Hold Out Hope for Hemp Farmers

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: After years of wrangling, the U.S. Congress stands on the verge of legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp.

Hemp is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant that doesn’t generate a psychoactive effect.
Traditionally used to produce cloth and rope, hemp can also now be used in wellness products and food.
Competing legislations by the House and Senate are being aligned with an anticipated September 30 deadline.
The legalization of hemp has cross-party support and appears likely to pass.

The expected change in U.S. law will be beneficial for companies such as Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile), which is already invested in industrial hemp and support for hemp growers. Across the border, Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) has established acres of Canadian hemp cultivation and gained financial backing that would support huge growth. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) has also received substantial funding in the past few months, which will help its ongoing expansion effort. Hemp cultivation will provide plentiful CBD to be used by companies such as CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) as an ingredient in a wide and growing range of health and wellness products. All this growth is aided by support companies such as Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC), which provides equipment for cannabis cultivators.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

Hemp: Caught Between Politics and Business

Industrial hemp is a crop with a strange history in the United States. For centuries, it was used to produce products such as ropes and sails, playing an integral part in the economy. This ended in the twentieth century when hemp was caught up in a broad ban on the cannabis family of plants, despite the fact that hemp itself is not usable as a recreational drug. Now its tentative return depends upon the outcome of a far broader agricultural bill.

Because it doesn’t share the psychoactive properties of marijuana, hemp has potential to be regulated and grown separately. Early tests in restoring this industry have produced significant profits for farmers. If the political will can be found to change its status, it could create great opportunities for businesses and their suppliers.

Hemp Cultivation Project in the United States

Several companies, including Marijuana Company of America (OTC: MCOA), are already growing hemp in the United States with their Scio, Oregon Cultivation Project, in conjunction with their joint venture partner Global Hemp Group Inc. (CSE: GHG) (OTC: GBHPF) (FRANKFURT: GHG).

Under their high-yielding CBD hemp cultivation projects, the two joint venture partners have formed Covered Bridge Acres, LTD. The key to the project was the acquisition of a 109-acre agricultural property in Scio, Oregon, with a history of hemp cultivation over the past few years. In July 2018, 40,000 hemp clones were planted on the property for Cannabidiol (CBD) propagation on approximately 33 acres of the property.

MCOA and GHG are now in the process of evaluating different harvesting, drying, storage and processing strategies in preparation of an early October harvest. The joint venture partners are also in negotiations with guaranteed offtake agreement offers and are considering strategies involved with selling the attained biomass from harvest in bulk.

When Is a Drug Not a Drug?

Hemp is one of a range of different cannabis plants. Unlike the versions smoked by recreational users, it doesn’t contain significant quantities of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that gets smokers high. It does contain the active ingredient cannabidiol (CBD), which has been widely reported to have medicinal value — reports that now have been substantiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Importantly, hemp also contains fibers that can be used for a wide range of purposes.

In the twentieth century, cannabis plants were banned as the U.S. government and others worldwide cracked down on drug use. Though hemp doesn’t get drug users high, the governments apparently banned the cannabis plant because of the difficulty of distinguishing between the plant varieties. The decision to include hemp in a list of banned drugs was based on political expediency rather than science.

Fast forward to the twenty-first century and the rules surrounding hemp have started to change, allowing the creation of companies such as MCOA. Hemp has a huge number of potential uses, including the manufacture of cloth and paper and the processing of food. Under licenses designed to cater to research and the medical market, farmers have begun growing industrial hemp with expectations of earning up to 150 times as much money per acre of land as they would growing alfalfa.

The Great Agricultural Debate

Farm bills are an important part of how the U.S. government establishes policy around food and agricultural production and how that policy is enshrined in law. Roughly every five years, Congress creates a bill covering a wide range of agricultural topics. With its huge financial implications and many different political angles, passing the bill can be a messy business.

Following a pilot research program for hemp growers created in the 2014 Farm Bill, the current Farm Bill includes the legalization of industrial hemp. There’s a lot at stake for hemp growers as well as those hoping to enter and establish a foothold in the industry. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable has gone so far as to hire attorney Daniel Cameron, an experienced Washington legal counsel, to lead its advocacy on the bill.

The House and Senate have both passed versions of the 2018 Farm Bill that support the legalization of the hemp industry without drug enforcement oversight. On Sept. 5, the first bicameral conference committee on this Farm Bill began meeting in an attempt to resolve competing elements between the two bills, with a deadline to present the president with an agreed-on final version of the bill by the end of the month.

The good news for companies such as MCOA is that the hemp element of the Farm Bill has cross-party support. Hemp’s potential to revive the fortunes of American farmers makes it a potential vote-winner for rural politicians nervously eyeing up the polls. The bad news is that in a bill affecting everything from agricultural subsidies to environmental conservation to food stamps, there’s plenty for politicians to disagree over.

Hemp Products

Sail cloth and rigging were enough to make hemp profitable in the eighteenth century, but the world has changed since then. So what sort of products can the world expect to see from a resurgent hemp market?

Many products will undoubtedly be targeted towards the health and wellness market, using CBD as an active ingredient. A leading example of these types of products is MCOA’s hempSMART line, including hempSMART Brain, which is developed to help with alertness and concentration; hempSMART Pain Capsules and Pain Cream, formulated to be an effective product combination for the temporary relief of minor pain associated with physical activity; hempSMART Full Spectrum Drops; and hempSMART Face, a nourishing facial moisturizer infused with Ayurvedic herbs and botancials.

A Growing Industry

Many companies already engaged in the cannabis market are exploring ways they may be able to benefit from the growing popularity of hemp. Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC), one of Canada’s foremost cannabis companies, has a hemp division with expertise in this area and acres of hemp production already under way. The company also recently received a $4 billion investment from Constellation Brands, a leading beverage company, to help it expand within the fast-growing cannabis market. With such levels of investment, Canopy Growth will be in a strong position to increase production as the market for hemp products grows.

The medical use of CBD is a major area of interest for Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF), which is developing different strains of cannabis to benefit from their different medical properties. Like Canopy Growth, Aurora has an eye to expansion while the market is still young. Its recent takeover of MedReleaf appears to be just one step in a far bigger plan. The company has just taken out a $150 million loan with the Bank of Montreal, betting on the power of a short-term financial boost to make it a market leader, more than capable of repaying the debt when the time comes.

Another company exploring the medical potential of CBD is CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI). CV Sciences has a strong focus on research, with a division devoted to developing new drugs that use CBD as an active ingredient. Its consumer products division works through health care providers, health food shops and online sales to market CBD-based wellness products.

The increasing number of growers is good news for supporting companies such as Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC). Terra Tech produces growing systems — including moving tables and hydroponics — for cannabis farmers. These products are designed to increase the productivity of indoor cannabis cultivation, which is where a lot of CBD and marijuana plants are grown. The company’s environmentally friendly systems can reduce waste and thereby cut costs while also increasing productivity.

The anticipated changes in the U.S. laws governing hemp cultivation signal implications for a large number of companies in the wider cannabis sector as well. If the Farm Bill gets through Congress as expected this month, it could open up a sea change in agricultural production and U.S. wellness industry products.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, visit Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA)

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Proposed Legal Changes Offer a Boost for Cannabidiol Companies in the United States

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Recent growth in the market for cannabidiol (CBD) products has been strong and appears poised to continue.

CBD is an active ingredient derived from industrial hemp that does not contain the psychoactive or “high” effect of marijuana.
CBD is used in a wide range of products, from cosmetics to pet supplements.
The recent acceptance of a CBD-based medicine by U.S. authorities creates potential for legal change that could make the sale of CBD easier.
Attention in the mainstream press has created a measure of gravitas for CBD.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) has produced a diverse range of CBD products to promote well-being. Cannabis company Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) has created a range of CBD oils for its customers while expanding its global reach. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF) provides pain relief through a range of cannabis strains and is set to expand its R&D potential through a takeover. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) provides equipment to cultivate cannabis and would benefit from a change in the legal landscape alongside its customers. PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN) holds several subsidiary companies benefiting from cannabis and CBD products, thanks to the diversity of the sector.

U.S. Authorities Consider Legal Changes

For decades, federal rules have held back cannabinoid-derived medicines in the United States. Though the majority of states now allow medical marijuana and associated cannabinoid-derived products, national legislation is still grounded in the war on drugs. The cannabis and hemp plants are classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning that it is legally seen as both dangerous and without medical benefits. Even treatments using cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient found in hemp and cannabis that is nonpsychoactive, currently fall under this classification.

That may be about to change. Following the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ground-breaking acceptance of prescription drug Epidiolex, the future of CBD products for medicinal use appears to be up in the air. Meanwhile, legislation from both sides of America’s political divide offers the possibility of bigger changes.

Tackling the Law

Progress on the legal status of CBD is being eagerly watched by companies such as Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA). With a focus on industrial hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol products, MCOA doesn’t produce and sell medical or recreational marijuana. But because hemp products are derived from the same family of plants, they fall under the same stigmas associated with the plant.

Increasingly liberal legislation at the state level has allowed companies such as MCOA to thrive in the United States. But that evidence-based liberalization is in conflict with the federal government’s decades-long prohibition, which some within the current conservative government are looking to reinforce rather than relax.

Despite this, the FDA approved CBD-based Epidiolex in June. Epidiolex has been developed to counter the seizures brought on by two rare ailments. Its approval for sale as a prescription medicine doesn’t mean that similar medications will automatically be approved, but it does open the possibility. In light of the approval, repeated calls have been made for the FDA to look again at the scheduling of certain cannabinoids and the broader picture of cannabis-derived medicines.

At the same time, several pieces of legislation that could change CBD’s status are being considered by Congress. Some of those are actually being proposed by Republicans, making it appear less likely that they will be blocked by America’s more conservative party. It looks increasingly likely that rescheduling or other legislative changes may soon make it easier for companies to cultivate industrial hemp as well as produce and market CBD products.

When such change comes, companies with a wide array of products are likely to be the ones that will benefit most. With a range that already runs from pain treatment to therapies for pet care and memory enhancement, MCOA’s line of products is representative of how versatile the use of CBD can be. A loosening of restrictions would make it easier to both broaden this selection and make it available to a wider market.

CBD Goes Mainstream

The growth of companies such as MCOA is helped by increasing mainstream attention on CBD. Forbes has reported on research into the product by the World Health Organization. Esquire has profiled the rise and diverse uses of this ingredient. The Washington Post has explored the growing popularity of CBD among celebrities, consumers and wellness professionals.

Because CBD doesn’t get a user high, it might seem strange that the marijuana derivative is becoming one of the most popular hemp-derived products. But the wellness market is big business in America as consumers clamor for ways to improve their energy levels and reduce the low-key aches and pains of everyday life. CBD’s reputation for improving health is making it popular among people who want the reported medical benefits without having to deal with the high.

The result is a fast-growing market. Consumer sales of CBD amounted to $262.2 million in the United States in 2016, more than double what they had been only two years before. Based on the market’s ongoing growth, analysts have predicted that the market will hit the billion-dollar mark by 2021.

More than half of CBD consumers take the products every day with anxiety, anti-inflammation and joint pain being the top symptoms the products are designed to impact. Successful treatment of these conditions would likely create a large base of long-term consumers.

The Varied Uses of CBD

This large and growing consumer base is looking to CBD for potential impact on a wide range of wellness concerns. The ability of companies such as MCOA to provide a range of products aimed at these symptoms would allow those companies to tap into a broad share of the market. MCOA’s hempSMART™ products are a great example of how many uses a single company can find for CBD.

HempSMART Brain is a patent-pending nootropic product designed to support natural brain function, which fits with what many consumers expect from CBD because the product is focused on the mind. These innovative capsules can be taken to support alertness and concentration.

HempSMART Pain is designed to provide relief from pain associated with physical activity by combining CBD with botanical supplements. Their hempSMART Pain Cream is designed to provide temporary relief from and soothe sore, aching muscles and joints.

The company most recently launched a new cosmetic product, hempSMART Face, a CBD facial moisturizer that has been designed to refresh, replenish and restore skin cells on the face. And perhaps most surprising is the company’s offering of sublingual CBD tinctures, including hempSMART Full-Spectrum Drops and hempSMART Pet Drops, a bacon-flavored supplement formulated to provide cats and dogs with renewed energy as well as a tasty treat.

Such a diverse range of products could help a company such as MCOA attract the attention of CBD consumers. It might also allow consumers to use CBD in more areas of their lives, expanding the CBD market.

Companies Set to Benefit

It’s not just the variety of CBD products that bodes well for the industry — it’s also the range of companies. If the legal status of cannabis and cannabis-derived products changes, an entire sector is set to benefit.

Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC), a leading player in retail cannabis, is using its research in the area to create CBD oils. By balancing the ratio of CBD and THC within its oils, Canopy Growth caters to differing wellness needs. Already a trusted player within the Canadian market, the company has acquired a subsidiary in the Kingdom of Lesotho and established another in Latin America. By looking to the wider world, the company is further expanding the global market for cannabis and CBD products.

One of the leading areas of interest for CBD is in pain relief. Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (OTCQX: ACBFF), one of the largest cannabis companies in the world, has established a strong position in this sector. The company has developed a large range of different strains of medical cannabis that can be used in developing new products as well as in retail. The Canadian Competition Bureau recently approved a takeover of MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF), a research-oriented company, by Aurora, leaving the company in a stronger position to make the most of the coming changes.

Rescheduling cannabis would benefit not just the companies selling cannabis and CBD products but also those supporting them. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) is a producer of environmentally friendly growing systems for cannabis growers. Its hydroponic systems use moving tables and recycled waste water to increase yields and reduce costs. As it becomes easier to grow and market cannabis, more growers may turn to Terra Tech for the equipment they need.

The maturity of the CBD and cannabis sector has also led to the emergence of several holding companies, including PotNetwork Holding, Inc. (OTC: POTN). This company’s subsidiaries include Diamond CBD, First Capital Venture and PotNetwork. Through these entities, PotNetwork benefits from growth across different parts of the industry, as well as supporting other companies in their expansion.

The market for CBD and other cannabis-derived products is already strong. With the prospect of legal rescheduling increasingly likely, these companies seem poised to benefit from changing attitudes in the United States and beyond.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, visit Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA)

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Cannabidiol Market Anticipates Growth as Regulatory Change Looms in U.S.

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Restrictions in the United States on cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient in cannabis, appear likely to loosen over the next few months, creating opportunities for CBD production and distribution companies.

CBD is an active ingredient with medical benefits but no “high”, or pyshcoactive effects.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a CBD-based medicine for the first time.
Companies are cultivating hemp to develop high yielding CBD plants.

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (MCOA Profile) is cultivating industrial hemp for CBD propagation at sites in the United States and Canada while continuting to develop and manfuacture CBD-based products for its hempSMART™ brand. Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) is expanding its global reach for cannabis products through deals covering the United States, Canada, Australia and Poland, as this sector of the economy goes global. CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) is providing a clean bill of health for its CBD wellness products. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) is providing advanced hydroponic growing systems that increase crop yields and reduce costs for CBD-oriented companies. Manufacturer Liberty Health Sciences (OTC: LHSIF) produces cannabis in facilities recently certified as meeting high standards for manufacturing.

FDA Leads the Way to Reclassify Cannabidiol

The market for cannabis and hemp products has seen a low-key but potentially huge step forward in recent weeks. For the first time, the FDA has approved a medicine that uses cannabidiol (CBD) as its active ingredient. CBD is a compound that can be found in the hemp and cannabis plants, but unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it does not get users high.

Repeated studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of cannabinoids. As a result, cannabis products have been approved for medical use in many states, but this is the first time that a cannabinoid-based CBD product has been approved at the federal level. This approval represents a softening of the federal government’s attitude. CBD was previously classified as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency, but this body is now expected to change its stance within the next three months, allowing the possibility to manufacture products that would currently be banned on the national level. This possibility represents a huge moment for the CBD industry.

Better Plants for Better Health

One of the companies likely to benefit from this change is the Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA). The company is focused on the cultivation of industrial hemp and the manufacturing of hemp-derived CBD products, and is expanding its operations to better serve its growing market.

The most recent addition to the company’s operations is an industrial hemp cultivation site in Scio, Oregon. Created in collaboration with Global Hemp Group (GHG), this is a 109-acre site in the Willamette Valley. With its rich soil and pre-existing irrigation infrastructure, the valley provides an ideal location for an agricultural project that has already been home to cannabis cultivation in the past.

The Scio facility uses a mixture of cultivation practices. It has 19,000 square feet of greenhouse growing space under construction alongside fields for outdoor crops. This will allow the company to produce a steady supply of hemp all year, with high-yield plants ensuring a significant volume of output.

One of the main aims of the team working at Scio is to encourage plant strains that have a particularly high yield of CBD. Careful data collection and analysis are being used to assess the quality of plants and the effectiveness of techniques used to grow them. The expected change in the legal status of CBD in the United States will make it easier for MCOA to conduct research and cultivate CBD rich industrial hemp like at the Scio site, and for patients to have access to the products that come from it.

Working with Government to Improve Agriculture

MCOA and GHG are also collaborating on a similar project in New Brunswick, Canada, on a much larger scale. For this project, the two companies are working with the New Brunswick Department of Aquaculture, Agriculture and Fisheries (DAAF) to explore better approaches to growing hemp.

With markets for hemp and CBD reaching greater maturity, the DAAF has shown its faith in the future by awarding a grant of $10,750 to the joint MCOA and GHG venture in the region. These funds will be used on test projects for the current crop season, which will allow the companies to improve their cultivation techniques.

These government-funded tests are focused on three areas, two of which are looking at soil conditions to identify the best levels of nitrogen fertilizer for crops and whether soil acidity can be effectively adjusted using local supplies of slag lime. The third area of study is the European corn borer, a moth that damages crops and that has been a pest to farmers in the region. Damage from borers was found on hemp stalks last year, so the companies will be looking at the impact this damage could have on cultivation.

The latest technology is being used to ensure the success of these tests. A drone company has been employed to provide overviews of growth across hemp fields because the height of the stalks and density of cultivation makes assessment by other means difficult. With agricultural experiments underway in both Canada and the United States, MCOA has multiple opportunities to cultivate better CBD crops.

In New Brunswick, the two companies have created what they refer to as the Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ), where they are carrying out trials of hemp cultivation targeted at developing the industry in the province. By exploring cultivation techniques, ensuring a market for the product and providing consistent jobs for local farm workers, they aim to create a green-industry cluster specializing in hemp.

Creating Wellness

MCOA isn’t just a cultivation company. It is manufacturing its hemp crops into a wide range of products formulated to improve the well-being of customers.

Much of this work is carried out through hempSMART, the company’s most prominent consumer brand. HempSMART creates CBD-based wellness products and provides consumers with education about the potential benefits CBD may provide. Many consumers don’t understand the difference between CBD and THC products. Through hempSMART, MCOA is raising awareness while reaching out to a growing market.

The most recent release from hempSMART is the relaunch of its hempSMART Brain product. This version doubles the dose of CBD from the original, combining CBD oil with a blend of natural plant-based ingredients. Designed to maintain mental clarity, alertness, focus and concentration, as well as promote relaxation, restorative sleep, and the repair and regeneration of brain cells, hempSMART Brain is a flagship product that demonstrates MCOA’s wellness agenda. With the prospect of a change in the CBD compound’s legal status in the United States, companies such as MCOA will have more opportunities to develop and sell these types of products, spreading CBD-based wellness.

Growing Companies Profit from Changing Regulations

A range of companies in the cannabinoid sector will be in a position to profit from this change. Cronos Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) is demonstrating the global potential of cannabinoid products. The North American company already has a cross-border deal that allows it to make use of advances in both Canada and the United States. In addition, Cronos was recently granted a manufacturing license to produce cannabis-based products in Australia, and a new Polish distribution agreement will give the company a foothold in the European market.

CV Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CVSI) is firmly focused on the CBD sector. The company has two parts: a drug development division exploring novel CBD-based treatments and a consumer product division that manufactures, markets and sells the resulting products.

Some companies are focused on providing support and equipment for CBD cultivation. Terra Tech Corporation (OTC: TRTC) has created a hydroponic growing system that uses moving tables to increase yields by up to 30 percent while reducing costs by up to half. Its energy efficiency and recycling of waste water means that the company’s systems live up to the expectations of green-minded consumers.

Liberty Health Sciences (OTC: LHSIF) works in the medical cannabis market. As it acquires and operates U.S.-based cannabis companies, its aim is to produce safe, high-quality cannabis for patients. It has recently received Good Manufacturing Practice certification for its high standards of safety, consistency and quality.

Given the growing number of players in the cannabis market, a shift in the classification of CBD on a federal level could have a tremendous impact. For companies already focusing on CBD products, a huge opportunity for growth in the United States may be on the horizon.

For more information on Marijuana Company of America, visit Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA)

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Cannabis Industry Keeps Making Steps Forward

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: As legalization spreads, the cannabis industry is achieving a new level of maturity, with a wide range of products and support services. Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) (GOHE Profile) is providing payment and consulting services for cannabis companies facing the unique challenges of their sector. Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) has developed sustainable farming methods that lead to better yields and lower costs. Surna, Inc. (OTCQB: SRNA) specializes in providing components for growing facilities and advice on how to set them up. Meanwhile, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) and GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) are both deploying new techniques to create innovative products for an ever more diverse market.

A Maturing Industry

The legal cannabis industry continues to be one of the fastest growing areas of North America’s economy. The legalization of medical cannabis in Canada and many American states has fostered a thriving medical cannabis industry over the past decade, consisting of everything from pharmaceutical companies to retail specialists. With recreational use now legal in several states and coming to Canada this summer, the industry is set to blossom further. Some estimates state that the Canadian cannabis sector alone could be worth over $20 billion within a few years.

With time and growth, the industry is maturing into something complex and varied. Companies are researching and marketing new goods, from vaporizing oils to soft drinks to community magazines. Other companies are specializing in providing support services to the industry. Whether it’s in finance, marketing, logistics or any of the other services a business needs, cannabis companies face their own unique challenges. A more mature sector is finding ways to adapt these to its specialist needs.

Cash and Cannabis

Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) is helping to provide cannabis companies with support in one of the most challenging areas — payment.

Access to financial services has always been difficult for cannabis companies. Though the use and sale of the drug is legal in many states, federal legislation remains the same as when cannabis was targeted as part of the war on drugs. This created a fear of prosecution for banks if they provided financial services to cannabis companies.

From the start, cannabis merchants have found themselves working in a cash economy. This has created inefficiencies and greater than normal risks of fraud, theft and accounting errors. From 2013 to 2017, the Department of Justice’s Operation Chokepoint made this even more difficult, as the government investigated banks that dealt with high-risk sectors for fraud or money laundering.

As a result, cannabis companies have been left in need of alternative payment methods. Global Payout and its partner, MoneyTrac technology, are moving to provide that service.

Global Payout is a provider of financial services solutions with experience in more mainstream industries. Its Global Reserve Platform (GRP) provides an all-in-one system for companies to make payments and money transfers in an international market. The system connects all aspects of a business’s financial operations, from FOREX to prepaid debit cards. Customizable to the needs of different businesses, it provides a complete and flexible end-to-end finance system.

Given the unique circumstances of the cannabis industry, simply adopting this banking-in-a-box system wasn’t going to provide the solution. Therefore, it’s a new product, created by a Global Payout partner, that is allowing the company to apply its expertise to the sector.

New Technology for a New Problem

Global Payout’s solution for the cannabis sector comes from its former subsidiary, MoneyTrac Technology. A technology and business development company whose motto is “Key to Cashless™,” MoneyTrac is focused on providing alternative options for banking and electronic finance.

In its quest to offer payment solutions to the cannabis industry, MoneyTrac has turned to blockchain technology. Blockchain is a distributed ledger system — a form of data keeping where responsibility for the record is shared across a network rather than kept in one place. It’s the technology behind cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. Through cryptocurrencies, blockchain has become the leading way of transferring value outside of the mainstream banking sector.

Blockchain payments offer cannabis companies several advantages. Such systems can be accessed by any customer, regardless of whether they themselves have a bank account. The money transfers happen away from the banks, which are wary about involvement in cannabis. Payments are nearly instantaneous, and because records are kept over a distributed network, there are no controllers creating bottlenecks or the risk of a single point of failure.

Launched in early April, MoneyTrac’s MTRAC payment system is powered by GreenBox blockchain technology (http://cnw.fm/GVSh6) and provides a payment system through which cannabis companies can take electronic payments, distancing themselves from the risks and inefficiencies of working with cash. Any customer can use a MoneyTrac kiosk to load up a card or digital wallet, which they can then use to pay for goods and services. Though currently focused on the cannabis market, this option may benefit other companies in high-risk sectors or that want to benefit from the potential of blockchain.

Support Services for a Growing Industry

In addition to financial solutions, MoneyTrac provides a range of support services for cannabis businesses.

Many cannabis retailers are new businesses looking to expand their scope and expertise. The MoneyTrac team have years of knowledge and experience in business development, allowing them to provide advice and support. They can guide clients through the challenges that come with starting and running profitable businesses.

Effective sales and marketing is a challenge for any business, but it can be even more difficult when that business is in a heavily regulated sector such as cannabis. MoneyTrac provides expertise in this area.

Regulatory compliance is a specialist area of knowledge in its own right. Working within the cannabis industry, MoneyTrac professionals have deep knowledge of this area, developed through strategic partnerships across the financial sector. The MoneyTrac team is therefore able to help clients ensure that they meet the legal requirements of their businesses.

Though such support services are already available for most businesses, they all come with their own unique twists where cannabis is concerned. It’s a sign of the growing maturity of the sector — and of its need for specialist expertise — that it can support a company supplying these services. And as the sector grows, so will the businesses providing these vital services.

A Variety of Products and Services

The need for specialist cannabis products has led to the emergence of a number of companies providing ancillary goods and services, as well as specialist products from within cannabis companies.

Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) has been developing superior, sustainable farming methods for cannabis. Its moving table hydroponic system increases harvest yields by up to 30% and reduces operational costs by up to 50%. By developing and supplying advanced horticultural equipment, the company is bringing forward the techniques and technology of cannabis cultivation. Thanks to its energy efficient systems and waste water recycling, Terra Tech is ensuring that cannabis growing meets the green credentials many customers look for. Together, these achievements led to record revenues for the company in 2017 (http://cnw.fm/OtFT9).

Surna, Inc. (OTCQB: SRNA) also works to provide better cannabis cultivation. The company manufactures components for cultivation facilities, including climate control, lighting and biosecurity. It also provides the support services needed to make the most of these products. Surna specialists have engineering and installation skills to help clients get their facilities smoothly up and running. Company consultants review floor plans and facility designs, as well as offer guidance on industry standards and best practices. It’s the sort of vital, practical advice that may help get growers off the ground.

The first publicly traded cannabis company in the United States, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) is a leader in medical cannabis sales across the Americas. Selling to countries including the United States, Mexico and Brazil, it is showing the potential for international growth. The company’s expertise lies in research as well as sales, with the development of proprietary techniques (http://cnw.fm/4ueX9) to extra cannabinoid molecules. These techniques are being used to develop a range of products, including hemp-based protein shakes and pet products. Such techniques and products are helping the cannabis industry reach new markets and customers, increasing profits along the way.

GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) is also focused on the medical potential of cannabis, while making the most of the opportunities in newly legal recreational markets. The company has developed some of the best cannabis strains in Nevada, identified as such because of their active ingredients. GB Sciences has also obtained an exclusive worldwide license to use a time-released cannabinoid formulation from the University of Seville, bringing a previously unused approach into the American market.

With companies developing new strains and techniques for using cannabis, the cannabis industry has an increasingly diverse range of products. This is supported by a growing range of support services, with companies providing everything from payment solutions to engineering advice, all geared toward cannabis. It’s a reflection of how fast the industry has matured that all this is happening even as the battle for legalization continues around the world.

For more information on Global Payout, Inc., please visit: Global Payout, Inc. (GOHE).

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Budding Legal Cannabis Industry Offers Opportunity Amid Challenge, Chaos

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Albert Einstein may have said it best: “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” The changing landscape of the cannabis industry perfectly illustrates this quote, and who better to know it than the companies and individuals involved in this burgeoning business? Canadians are standing by while government leaders grapple with last-minute details of legalizing adult-use recreational cannabis nationwide, while Americans watch lawmakers debate and often reject legislation that would make some form of the highly regulated plant legal in more states. Companies poised to benefit from this “green rush” are providing services specifically tailored to this growing market that, from the outside, can appear chaotic. Among the companies responding to the call are Global Payout, Inc. (GOHE) (GOHE Profile), Terra Tech Corporation (OTCQX: TRTC), GB Sciences Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX), Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) and Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC: MJNA).

The Struggle

One of the most significant issues facing recreational and medical cannabis businesses is finding ready and willing financial institutions to handle the enormous amounts of cash the industry generates. U.S. federal banking institutions are hesitant to get involved, since cannabis remains illegal under federal law. Canadian banks are keeping an eye on the industry while waiting for legalization to take hold in Canada later this year. Even those institutions willing to serve the industry are having second thoughts. Just last month, the Bank of Springfield in Illinois told its cannabis clients it would close their accounts (http://cnw.fm/LyWP5). The decision to withdraw is tied to the January reversal of a policy from President Barack Obama’s administration that discouraged the prosecution of operators under state marijuana laws.

“The bank’s stance is that protecting their customers is paramount,” said Andrew Mack, a spokesman for the bank. “The Bank of Springfield will not jeopardize any of their customers by working with businesses that operate in the legal gray zone.”

Alternative Fintech Options

Global Payout, Inc. (GOHE) and its San Diego-based partner, MoneyTrac Technology (“MTRAC”), offer alternative fintech banking solutions to high-risk industries in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Through customized payment solutions, companies can process and manage electronic payments worldwide. MTRAC recently launched its new “Key to Cashless™” payment option powered by GreenBox blockchain technology (http://cnw.fm/T8hkZ) by placing a demo kiosk in the company’s corporate sales office.

Vanessa Luna, MTRAC CEO, said the company has worked on the project for over a year and a half and is now accepting applications from qualified merchants operating within a variety of “alternative” and “high-cost” industries interested in the system.

“We are extremely excited to be getting this payment platform off the ground, and we plan to pay special attention to marketing and recruiting local governments and municipalities to adopt the technology as a means for both regulating legal cannabis sales and tracking it for tax purposes,” Luna said. “The power of this payment system cannot be overstated; it is a one-of-a-kind service offering that no other company can match, offering cashless transactions, inventory tracking, fully integrated point-of-sale and one-click payroll capabilities and is very much the solution the cannabis industry has been waiting for.”

A Growing Marketplace

Grand View Research reports that the global medical cannabis market is projected to reach a value of $55.8 billion by 2025 (http://cnw.fm/m0Zjp) while retail sales of legal cannabis products in North America alone are expected to fetch $24.5 billion by 2021, according to an article in Fortune magazine. California’s medical marijuana market is already as big as the total markets in Colorado, Washington and Oregon combined, the article states (http://cnw.fm/hK3S7).

Ancillary businesses that support the cannabis industry are growing fast, as well, said Mitchell Kulick, partner at Feuerstein Kulick LLP, a cannabis law firm that provides legal services to companies, funds, investors and lenders in the space.

“The reality is that, despite being illegal on a federal level, medical and adult-use marijuana are by most measures real industries that cannot be ignored and that have the same needs as more mainstream business,” said Kulick (http://cnw.fm/MLcu6). “So, from payroll providers to point-of-sale software to compliance companies, law firms, accountants, and the list goes on, many businesses that are ancillary to the industry are now part of this revolution.”

As part of that “revolution” the MTRAC Kiosk, powered by GreenBox’s state-of-the-art closed loop blockchain technology, can be placed in any business that wishes to conduct cashless transactions. Customers either load currency onto an e-wallet or a pre-paid debit card and then use the digital currency or pre-loaded debit card to pay for purchases. Integrated Compliance Solutions (“ICS”), a leader in the Know Your Customer procedures as well as in legal compliance solutions for the cannabis industry, has committed to serving as the compliance arm of MTRAC and its GreenBox payment solution (http://cnw.fm/FOn5V).

“ICS has done an excellent job of making a name for themselves in terms of offering highly effective and much needed compliance for the cannabis industry,” Luna said. “We believe they have the necessary technology, experience and connections to provide the best compliance our network of clients can benefit from.”

Change of Heart

Former Republican speaker of the House John A. Boehner recently switched sides in the battle to decriminalize cannabis. Once “unalterably opposed” to rolling back federal regulations, Boehner has now joined a board of directors for a cannabis company and is voicing support for veterans to have legal access to medicinal cannabis, the Washington Post reports (http://cnw.fm/Ge34b). His change of heart and mind about cannabis is matched by many Americans who now overwhelmingly voice support for legalizing medical cannabis.

Paying for a cannabis prescription, however, remains a challenge since cash-in-hand is often the only method of payment available. Representatives from MTRAC are already in talks with several California municipalities to implement the company’s payment system as the preferred method for licensed dispensaries in their jurisdictions. MTRAC’s Kiosk offers one of the most effective cashless alternatives to these businesses in a way that meets compliance and regulatory requirements, the company said in a news release (http://cnw.fm/9U2gQ).

On the Bandwagon

GOHE and MTRAC aren’t the only companies that have seen — and responded — to a need in the cannabis industry. Other companies are moving to the forefront as they provide services specifically geared for this blossoming market.

California-based Terra Tech Corporation (OTCQX: TRTC) is a vertically integrated, cannabis-focused agriculture company committed to providing the highest-quality medical cannabis and other agriculture products. Terra Tech, which just reported a 41 percent year-over-year revenue growth for 2017, has established extensive cultivation capabilities and retail outlets in California and Nevada.

“Cannabis analytics firm New Frontier projects Nevada’s total cannabis market to be $622 million by 2020 and we are excited by the opportunity to participate in its growth,” Terra Tech CEO Derek Peterson said in a news release (http://cnw.fm/ExV4Q).

GB Sciences Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) is a diverse cannabis company focused on standardized cultivation and production methods as well as biopharmaceutical research and development. The company’s goal is creating safe, standardized, pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid therapies that target a variety of medical conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and neuropathy. GB Sciences recently received its license for cannabis oil production, which will soon begin at a Las Vegas facility, and expects retail sales revenues of its products to roll in during the second quarter of 2018, the company stated in a news release (http://cnw.fm/J4wCj).

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) has developed and out-licenses its proprietary DehydraTECH™ technology for improved taste, rapidity and delivery of bioactive compounds including cannabinoids. The company’s disruptive technology is proven to enhance the absorption of orally ingested cannabinoids while improving the taste, which allows for lower overall dosing with higher efficacy. Most recently, Lexaria received a new U.S. Patent Allowance for enhanced cannabinoid delivery using its DehydraTECH technology (http://cnw.fm/8vnXq). Lexaria currently has 15 patent applications filed in the United States and over 30 pending in more than 40 countries, plus two patents granted for cannabinoid delivery in the United States and one granted in Australia.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA), headquartered in California, is a cannabis and industrial hemp company whose subsidiaries and investment holdings are involved in the development, sale and distribution of hemp oil and other products containing CBD-rich hemp oil. The company’s products are formulated for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries, including dietary supplements. The company also sells its products in several countries that have legalized its products for the treatment of various illnesses and conditions. Medical Marijuana subsidiary HempMeds® announced at the Pittsburgh World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo (http://cnw.fm/O3WBc) that it has released a new roll-on, topical hemp product specifically targeting athletes and active adults.

Look Out, It’s 2018

California’s conversion to statewide recreational cannabis is already experiencing some missteps and growing pains. Canada’s move to become the first Group of Seven nation to legalize adult-use marijuana is dominating international discussions while cannabis entrepreneurs scramble to capitalize on its legalization. Alcohol companies see opportunity amid the chaos, with some investing in cannabis firms or planning to introduce their own cannabis-infused products. Several companies serving the cannabis industry are looking at creating ways to avoid cash transactions through blockchain technology’s promise of a tamper-proof form of digital bookkeeping through a distributed, encrypted ledger. The cannabis industry’s growth presents challenges and opportunities on a variety of interesting and potentially very lucrative levels.

For more information on Global Payout, Inc., visit Global Payout, Inc. (GOHE).

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Fired-Up Cannabis Players Ride into 2018 on Year-End High

CannabisNewsWire Editorial Coverage: Cannabis and blockchain were all the buzz in 2017 and investor trading in these stocks was heavy going into the close of the year. This helped significantly push up TD Ameritrade’s quarterly profit and boost daily average trades to 726,000 for the quarter ending December 30, 2017 — an increase of 49 percent from the previous year (http://cnw.fm/i5DkN). With this market frenzy spilling over into 2018, companies like Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) (GOHE Profile) are in position to profit with fingers strategically in both pies, applying their expertise in both the cannabis and blockchain markets. Such companies poised to enjoy broader growth in the industries include Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC), mCig, Inc. (OTCQB: MCIG), Surna, Inc. (OTCQB: SRNA) and MPX Bioceutical Corp. (CSE: MPX) (OTC: MPXEF).

Rising Star

It is no secret that the cannabis market is on fire, fueled in part by Canada’s anticipated legalization of recreational marijuana, increasing public acceptance and industry innovations that keep investors interested in new developments.

Another event that helped shine a spotlight on marijuana stocks was the debut of ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF, a first-of-its-kind, U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund that tracks the cannabis industry. While the trading period is usually slow between Christmas and New Year’s, this launch generated big buzz in the marijuana sector during that typically sluggish period.

The North American Marijuana Index has seen growth during the recent quarter, as well, with the addition of seven new cannabis companies to the Canadian Marijuana Index. This brings the total number of constituents on the index to 39.

Market Multitasking

Simultaneous endeavors in two red-hot market sectors—marijuana and blockchain, in this case—has proven a good strategy for Global Payout, Inc. (GOHE). This leading worldwide pre-payment solutions provider is successfully applying its core fintech capabilities in serving the cannabis industry, as well as offering cutting-edge blockchain technology solutions for a variety of other market sectors.

Decentralized Cannabis Payment System

Global Payout’s majority-owned MoneyTrac Technology, Inc. (“MTRAC”) subsidiary offers a wide array of services to help businesses in high-risk industries (notably cannabis enterprises) efficiently and effectively manage their operations. MTRAC’s technology equips business owners with the tools they need to meet compliance regulations, improve electronic payment processing and, in general, create an operational structure that will boost growth.

Global Payout kicked-off 2018 with the announcement (http://cnw.fm/cQ2yC) that its MTRAC subsidiary is moving forward with the co-launch of its regulation-compliant token offering, the M-Token, which is on track to be launched during the first quarter of this year. This has been made possible through various key strategic partnerships. The token is aimed at providing cannabis businesses with an effective decentralized payment system.

“MoneyTrac’s primary objective has been, and will continue to be, to serve the legitimate and profitable businesses of the cannabis industry by effectively addressing the financial technology and banking challenges they are faced with. Right now, one of the biggest and most daunting challenges they face is having to run their businesses strictly on cash,” MTRAC CEO Vanessa Luna stated in the press release. “This is not only dangerous from a theft perspective, but not practical in terms of basic financial management solutions. Our regulatory-compliant Token Offering will revolutionize how these businesses operate and help MTRAC further its objectives for identifying various partnerships and cultivating the relationships necessary to pave the way for alternative banking solutions.”

Throughout the U.S. cannabis industry, a large number of merchants continue to deal exclusively in cash transactions as marijuana’s continued status as a federally illegal drug has made cannabis vendors essentially “unbankable.” Dealing in cash is not only inconvenient for marijuana merchants and users alike, but it leaves cannabis businesses extremely vulnerable to theft, making a decentralized payment system not only attractive but very necessary.

The need for alternative cannabis payment solutions has been further sharpened by recent news that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded memos from the Obama Administration that formerly protected cannabis cultivators, users and vendors from federal prosecution in states where cannabis has been legalized.

In developing the M-Token, MTRAC has worked with various partners in the fintech and compliance sectors, including Pegasus Fintech Inc., and continues to devote substantial time and resources toward the requisite due diligence process to make sure the M-Token meets all regulatory compliance requirements before it is officially launched.

It is anticipated that the M-Token will effectively fill the huge banking void for businesses in the multibillion-dollar cannabis industry.

‘Banking the Unbankable’

In related efforts, MTRAC recently announced (http://cnw.fm/Wwa8P) its “Joint Venture Compliance, Crypto-Commodity, iCloud and Strategic Partnership Agreement” with Crypto Value Management System, LLC (CVMS), which has secured an exclusive California license for a cryptocurrency exchange platform. This platform is expected to enhance both MTRAC’s and CVMS’s efforts to offer fintech solutions to businesses in the cannabis industry and other alternative market sectors.

The secure, compliant blockchain technology developed by CVMS is the most cutting-edge crypto-commodity exchange platform available. In addition to aiding businesses that lack banking options, this technology is intended to serve as the backbone for MTRAC’s token exchange platform for the M-Token.

“Securing this JV Partnership Agreement with CVMS marks a huge milestone for MoneyTrac and our continued pursuit of banking the ‘un-bankable’ within the cannabis industry,” Luna stated. “The exclusive licenses CVMS has worked diligently to acquire in the State of California are critical pieces to the foundation we are developing for a token exchange platform that will become one of the most valuable resources to businesses in an industry where millions of dollars are exchanged in commerce every day.”

PotSaver Publication

Global Payout’s MTRAC subsidiary is also collaborating with the company’s PotSaver brand to launch PotSaver Biz, a publication developed exclusively for cannabis businesses. PotSaver Biz is aimed at becoming a premier networking platform for companies operating within the cannabis space, including businesses that offer ancillary services to the cannabis market.

The publication will give cannabis-related business owners an effective platform through which to market their products and services to one another.

Throughout PotSaver Biz, thousands of cannabis-related businesses and brands will be able to enhance their market presence through a paid listing in the publication. The publication will also serve as an additional revenue stream for MTRAC.

Cannabis Peers

Other standout players on the move to capitalize in the cannabis market with diverse offerings include companies like Terra Tech (TRTC).

Terra Tech is a vertically integrated, cannabis-focused agriculture company that operates through multiple subsidiary businesses, including Blüm, IVXX Inc., Edible Garden and MediFarm LLC. These subsidiaries offer an array of products and services, ranging from high-quality medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis products to medical cannabis permit application and procurement services.

Terra Tech recently received State of California Temporary Authorization to begin adult-use cannabis sales in that state.

Innovative biotech company mCig (MCIG) is fully diversified across multiple areas of the cannabis industry, ranging from construction and cultivation to production packaging, media and investments. The company is focused particularly on hemp, cannabinoid R&D, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals and is also a leading distributor of innovative products, customized packaging solutions, technologies and services for the worldwide medical marijuana industry. Among its endeavors, mCig recently announced plans to launch an advanced hemp CBD-based formula for domestic pets.

Boulder, Colorado-based Surna (SRNA) provides ancillary services to cannabis businesses, manufacturing a proprietary line of premium lighting, environmental control and air sanitation systems designed to serve both state-regulated cannabis cultivation facilities and traditional indoor agricultural facilities. The company’s aim is to provide smart solutions that can enhance the quality, control and overall yield and efficiency of controlled-environment agriculture.

MPX Bioceutical (MPXEF) is an Ontario corporation that offers services in the United States and Canada. Through its U.S.-based wholly owned subsidiaries, MPX provides significant management, staffing, procurement, advisory, financial, real estate rental, logistics and administrative services to two medical marijuana enterprises in Arizona. The company also recently acquired the award-winning GreenMart of Nevada NLV, LLC, which is a licensed cultivation, production and wholesale business serving both the medical and recreational cannabis markets in Nevada. MPX further owns cannabis assets in Massachusetts and Maryland and also leases a property in Ontario, Canada, for which it has submitted an application to Health Canada for a cannabis production and sales license.

For more information about Global Payout, visit Global Payment, Inc. (GOHE).

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